Assembling a new steering column for my RP saloon, I would like to get the throttle & ignition levers fitted correctly.
At the top of the column, the top lever is the throttle (3 o'clock) and the lower one is the ignition (9 o'clock).
The thinnest tube is the throttle and the middle tube is the ignition.
So far so good (I hope).
For the levers at the bottom of the column, I'm fairly sure that the longer one is the throttle and the shorter one is the ignition.
Which way do they point - do they line up with the corresponding levers at the top of the column or are they 180° from them?
Which way up do they go - with the boss at the top or at the bottom? The List of Spare Parts shows the shorter (ignition) lever boss downwards and the longer (throttle) lever boss upwards (see picture).
On our 1929 fabric saloon they are as illustrated with the bosses towards each other. I just worked out the position by what works. For the throttle there is only one way that works. Foe the ignition I think ours is 180 degrees out and the plate under the distributer is upside down, however it works.
01-04-2025, 01:03 AM (This post was last modified: 01-04-2025, 01:05 AM by Tony Griffiths.)
Mine are like the BM143/ BM59 arrangement with the longer for the throttle and the shorter controlling the ignition - but complications can arise if you don't have the original control rods. When I retrieved PL3002, both bronze levers and the control rods were missing (and the horn electrical parts). Having found the levers, the next job was to make up the control rods. The one for the throttle was easy enough, but that for the ignition proved more difficult. Eventually, after a lot of faffing about making up (from memory) at least three examples and experimenting with the clamping of the lever its tube, I managed to get the advance/retard rod to give a complete and correct sweep.
Sorry, I can't help. Since I fitted a Bosch dizzy, which is set and locked I have never needed the manually adjusters and to prevent unnecessary rattling I've removed the control rods and locked off the column levers. It also stops people fiddling when parked up at shows. If the bottom levers are still in place I'll take a pic later today and email it to you.
01-04-2025, 08:52 AM (This post was last modified: 01-04-2025, 08:53 AM by Howard Wright.)
Hi David
Good to see you here at the LCES Welsh Weekend on Saturday. Hope you had a good tour and got back safely. We had a splendid weekend!
Not sure if this helps but on all three of my 28/29/30 cars I have assembled the levers in this way. I think the ignition timing lever could be the other way up but if it is it fouls the steering boss.
I know it’s not an RP but I can’t image why Austin would have changed things.
01-04-2025, 08:57 AM (This post was last modified: 01-04-2025, 09:13 AM by "Slack Alice" Simon.)
My AH is as the picture, bosses together, levers in the same position as the control levers at the top of the column, longer one below the short one
Control rod lengths, to the bends at the end, about 15 3/4" and 5 1/2"
Update to my last post - sorry. Both my levers have been removed so can't help there. The adjuster plate below the dizzy has the rod connection facing out to the offside of the car.
01-04-2025, 10:58 AM (This post was last modified: 01-04-2025, 11:53 AM by David Cochrane.)
David Mawby writes:
"On the steering column, the top and bottom levers are at 3 o'clock for the throttle and 9 o'clock for the ignition.
The longer bottom lever is the throttle.
Both lever bosses are upwards on both of my RP saloons, it allows space for the bar going from the ignition lever to the distributor, which goes into the hole on the lever from the top."
This agrees with Howard's photo, so I'll go with that. Many thanks for all the replies!
Levers.jpg (Size: 16.53 KB / Downloads: 238)
